[...well. Here they are. Whenever Xion makes her way to the beach she'll find Sol crouched down near the water. They don't turn to face her, but they seem to be waiting for her anyway. The shell she sent down the river is in their hand, but they seem to be using the other to dig through the sand and hunt for others.
...truthfully they would just stay there as long as possible even if Xion didn't show up. So really, it's all a matter of her taking the first step.]
[ despite setting out the lantern herself, xion hadn't actually expected an answer, much less an invitation. between the trial, the dreams, and everything else that's been thrown at all of them since last week, she's been in a sort of haze since monday, so this is... in a weird way, a welcome change.
she's quiet, almost silent as she walks toward them, but she makes herself known soon enough. ]
...you came.
GODDAMNIT I FORGOT TO SET UP FORWARDING /shrieks and yeets self here
[She speaks and they still don't turn away, but they seem to sit up a little taller as they listen to her. It's been a long week for several of them, but Sol glances over their shoulder at Xion and nods.]
Well...yeah. [Cautiously, but light all the same.] You called for me, didn't you? I wouldn't ignore that.
[ she would question why they keep their face hidden from her, even when there's no one else around to see. but that would make her the biggest hypocrite ever, wouldn't it? ]
Even after I yelled at you? Even after I hit Mary? Even after I voted for myself?
[Maybe it's a good thing not to question that yet anyway.]
Yeah. Even after all of that. [There's zero judgment in the tone, but something almost like exhaustion. Maybe sadness. It's hard to say what, exactly, Sol is thinking but they aren't really upset anymore.] ...it was because of all of that I wasn't even sure you'd try to talk to me again anyway.
[...] I'm sorry. [For everything on Saturday, for this game, for...a lot of things, but that's where they leave it.]
[They don't move, but there's a sound of surprise when she approaches like they somehow thought she wouldn't. They finally look at her, head tilted down to look at her hand.
...it's slow, but they take it. ]
...you don't have a reason to trust me right now, but...it's going to be alright. I'll fix this.
[Up on their feet, they seem to linger for a moment before looking back at the sand.]
Oh, yeah! [It's hard to see when there's no face, but they sound happy enough.] The one you sent was kind of cool, so I thought...[...thought...what...] We could find some more.
[People are dying but sometimes Sol has their own motivations, too.]
[ she follows behind them for a few moments, before making the decision to keep up with their pace and stick by their side instead. ]
Well, I didn't get it at the time... but I know now that you were just trying to help as much as you could. We all have things we can and can't say, as much as we want to.
[That's better at least. The pace they set is leisurely and doesn't seem too hurried at the moment.]
When Lune and I first got our assignments, we were told that we can help but we can't meddle. So even if there are things we know, we aren't always allowed to say yet. But there's still a lot we don't know and we're learning about. It's just as frustrating for us as it is for everybody else.
[It's why they sometimes tolerate people being really angry.] ...it sort of feels like keeping it a secret, but it's a secret we want to tell. Does that make sense?
Well...[Hm.] We're allowed to talk about how the corruption's manifested so far...and about what can happen to a person if it's not removed from them. And about the gateways? [What else might be useful?]
...we knew exactly what happened between Tsurumaru and Mary. But we couldn't tell any of you.
Something really bad. We don't know the exact details, but that darkness in her would have grown and continued changing her. ...it would have hurt her even more if we left it alone. That's the problem.
Mmhm. [A noise of confirmation isn't the same as saying the words so it's fine. ] We're trying to find another way, but the instability is moving faster than we are.
It's like...it's like it's growing out of control and has been since before we even got here. Lune and I were called because the instability had already started. Then there were a few weeks between then and when you all arrived.
[Down in the sand they go, digging with their hand.] If we could at least find another angle to come from, we might be able to stop it before it rows in another direction.
And... that's why we're here? To find that new direction?
[ ... excuse her for a second or two, though, as she marvels at how sand actually feels between her fingers; she's only ever searched for shells previously with her gloves on. ]
Uh huh. [They seem to be watching her from under that hood still.] But I don't think that should be your only job here. Since you're here, and there's lot of other people, everyone should be trying to get along and work together...learn new things...stuff like that. If we have the chance, why not?
Week 1, Thursday, pre-curfew
...truthfully they would just stay there as long as possible even if Xion didn't show up. So really, it's all a matter of her taking the first step.]
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she's quiet, almost silent as she walks toward them, but she makes herself known soon enough. ]
...you came.
GODDAMNIT I FORGOT TO SET UP FORWARDING /shrieks and yeets self here
Well...yeah. [Cautiously, but light all the same.] You called for me, didn't you? I wouldn't ignore that.
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Even after I yelled at you? Even after I hit Mary? Even after I voted for myself?
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Yeah. Even after all of that. [There's zero judgment in the tone, but something almost like exhaustion. Maybe sadness. It's hard to say what, exactly, Sol is thinking but they aren't really upset anymore.] ...it was because of all of that I wasn't even sure you'd try to talk to me again anyway.
[...] I'm sorry. [For everything on Saturday, for this game, for...a lot of things, but that's where they leave it.]
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Me too.
[ she walks over to them, sand crunching under her shoes, and offers her hand to them. ]
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...it's slow, but they take it. ]
...you don't have a reason to trust me right now, but...it's going to be alright. I'll fix this.
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Were you... looking for shells?
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Oh, yeah! [It's hard to see when there's no face, but they sound happy enough.] The one you sent was kind of cool, so I thought...[...thought...what...] We could find some more.
[People are dying but sometimes Sol has their own motivations, too.]
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... We can, if that's what you want to do.
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I...kinda want to make it up to you. For last week. No work, no arguing, just...talking. I think I promised you that much anyway.
[To talk and try to answer questions when she was ready, they mean.]
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Thank you, Sol.
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...I shouldn't have said it to you the way I did. It sort of just came out that way. So...I get why you were mad.
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Well, I didn't get it at the time... but I know now that you were just trying to help as much as you could. We all have things we can and can't say, as much as we want to.
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When Lune and I first got our assignments, we were told that we can help but we can't meddle. So even if there are things we know, we aren't always allowed to say yet. But there's still a lot we don't know and we're learning about. It's just as frustrating for us as it is for everybody else.
[It's why they sometimes tolerate people being really angry.] ...it sort of feels like keeping it a secret, but it's a secret we want to tell. Does that make sense?
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[ she lets the sound of the waves rolling in the distance fill the air before turning to look at them, still careful to watch her step. ]
What kind of things are you allowed to say?
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...we knew exactly what happened between Tsurumaru and Mary. But we couldn't tell any of you.
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... Why not? What would have happened if... if we were wrong?
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[There is no kind solution yet. ]
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[ . . . she doesn't want to finish that sentence. ]
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[ she takes this chance to crouch down at their position and start poking through the sand. ]
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[Down in the sand they go, digging with their hand.] If we could at least find another angle to come from, we might be able to stop it before it rows in another direction.
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[ ... excuse her for a second or two, though, as she marvels at how sand actually feels between her fingers; she's only ever searched for shells previously with her gloves on. ]
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